CNS Movie Review: Grizzly Man

Grizzly Man

By Harry Forbes
Catholic News Service

NEW YORK (CNS) -- Like many boys, Timothy Treadwell loved his teddy bear. As an adult, he still slept with one. But this time, it was in a tent in the Alaskan wilderness surrounded by real bears that were anything but cuddly.

"Grizzly Man" (Lions Gate) is a fascinating profile of Treadwell, a grizzly bear preservationist, and founder of the Grizzly People organization.

He filmed himself alone in the wilderness over a five-year period as he tried to "make friends" with wild bears he addressed in cloying baby talk, when not petulantly admonishing them to move away.

Many -- like the native Alaskans -- believed he was crossing a dangerous boundary. As one observer comments, he acted like he was dealing with people wearing bear costumes. Another opines that it seemed as if Treadwell almost wanted to be a bear, but pointed out the futility of his trying to "enter their world."

Treadwell felt his mission was to protect the bears from poachers and inform the public of their plight (an appearance with David Letterman is included), but he was fully aware of the dangers. (His lengthy monologues to the camera frequently have prophetic ruminations about how easily he might be killed, and even how that eventuality might help the bears' cause.)

But he doesn't really seem to have a death wish, as at one point he exclaims, "Lord, I don't want to be hurt by a bear."

But he and his wary girlfriend, Amie Huguenard, were mauled and devoured by a bear in 2003.

German director Werner Herzog -- who also narrates -- explores the life and death of a man by turns passionate, eccentric and childlike. Far from being a rough-and-tumble mountain man, Treadwell's demeanor is flamboyant and campy. But though he facetiously wishes he were gay because his love life might be easier, he says he's just "one goofy straight guy." Someone else observes wryly that the bears let him alone as long as they did because they probably thought he was "mentally retarded," and thus a harmless nuisance.

Treadwell spoke to the bears as he might have to a pet dog -- a grave mistake according to some, including Herzog, who confesses he could see nothing in the bears' eyes but the cold indifference of nature.

Treadwell seems not to have been a believer, but in one sequence he prays for rain to the Christian God -- and every other god he can think of -- and when it comes, his gratitude is palpable. At another point, he boasts, "If there were a God, he'd adore me," referring to all his self-proclaimed "good work."

Using much of Treadwell's own footage, Herzog added the recollections of his subject's parents, colleagues and girlfriends. Treadwell had serious alcohol and drug problems, and major disappointments as an actor before finding his raison d'etre in bears.

Possessing a mercurial temper, at one point he rails against the park authorities and others with a foul-mouthed tirade.

The result is a compulsively absorbing psychological study of an obsessed man, alternately admired and disparaged by those who knew him, as much as a nature documentary. (As for the latter, the footage of the bears is indeed extraordinary.)

When he was killed, the camera was running, but he had no time to remove the lens cap, so only the audio recorded the gruesome event. This is not used in the film, but the coroner (who might have come straight out of central casting!) describes the content of that tape in almost lip-smacking detail.

For all his foibles, Treadwell's devotion to the animals -- however misplaced -- was genuine ("I love you, I love you, I love you," he'd often cry) and, as the pilot who found his remains points out, he would not have wanted even the bear who killed him to be shot.

You may find this film about man's relationship to nature, and madness and obsession at times uncomfortable to sit through, but you sure won't be bored.

The film contains profanity, much rough language including repeated use of the f-word, some sexual musings, irreligious grumblings, animal violence and a gruesome description of his death (not shown). The USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R -- restricted.

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Forbes is director of the Office for Film & Broadcasting of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

END

Copyright (c) 2005 Catholic News Service/USCCB. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed.
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